Blizzard and Freezing Temps Don't Deter Runners Training for Marathon

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Jan 14, 2011, 05:52 ET

Running for a Cause Helps Get the Job Done

WATERTOWN, Mass., Jan. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Kevin Daley ran in his hometown of Newton, MA on the day of the first blizzard of 2011.

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"My wife thinks I am a bit crazy, especially when she drove by me running on Wednesday during the storm," said Daley. Like other runners getting in shape for the marathon season, Daley will log hundreds of frosty cold miles. The fact that he is running as part of the Alzheimer's Association® Run for the Memory team, in honor of his father, does make it easier for him to get out of bed at 5 a.m. to lace up his running shoes.

An advertising professional, like his father, Daley took up running after learning of his father's Alzheimer's diagnosis. His father was an ex-marathoner and avid runner, so Daley decided to train for the 2009 Boston Marathon even though he had not run in years. That first try resulted in an injured tendon that ended the run for him at mile 22. He failed to reach the finish line where his father was waiting for him.

In 2011, he has decided to try again and joined with others who have been affected by Alzheimer's disease. The Run for the Memory team comprises experienced and novice marathoners, all of whom commit to raising money for the Alzheimer's cause.

"My Dad will be 77 this spring and is doing his best in this losing battle. His running days are over for good, though he can still do it physically, he has problems finding his way."

So, Daley is running for his father. Like other marathoners in training, he runs an average 40-50 miles a week, building up to longer runs. He rises in the dark so he can run before he takes his children to school.

Maintaining motivation in tough conditions can be the biggest challenge for those training now, said Run for the Memory program coordinator Michelle Gonzalez.

"They commit to running in the dark, in below freezing weather and slippery conditions. That push to just get out the door is easier when someone is running for a cause like Alzheimer's," said Gonzalez. In addition to weekday solitary training, the 33 members of the Run for the Memory team also use a weekend team run to get in shape.

"My son remembers two years ago waiting for me at the finish line of the marathon, which I never made it to," said Daley. He is hoping that his training pays off, his ankle holds up, and he finishes the run his father can no longer make.

For information on the Run for the Memory program visit www.runforthememory.org. Run for the Memory is an official program of the Alzheimer's Association, MA/NH Chapter. Learn more about Alzheimer's programs and research at www.alz.org/MANH.

SOURCE Alzheimer's Association